Gas engine fuel induction means



June 17, 1947. E, G, BAKER 2,422,517

GAS ENGINE FUEL INDUCTION MEANSy Fileg Dee. 21,- 1944 Patented June 17,1947 UNI TED STAT-ES PATENT FFI C E 2,422,517 ons ENGINE-FUELINDUCTIONMENS Erwin G. Baker, Indianapolis, Ind. `applicationpimenter21, i944fsefial Nn. 569,250

3 Claims. l This invention relates to means for induction offuel into a-gas enginefor combustion therein, and particularly vhas to do with theconversion of'liquid fuel into substantially complete gaseousTform-as'opposed to mere atomization.

`An limportant advantage-of the invention is 'that unusually highmileage is secured by its'use vfrorn'each gallon of liquid fuel withoutany mechanical change in the engine itself, which 4fact vnieansfthat theinvention may be applied not -only to newly designed engines in thesource of `manuvA Afurther important advantage of the invention is thatthrough its use, Vnot only is the vfuel vconsumption Agreatly reduced,but "at the same Itime there-is no material change in the characteristicoperation of the engine itself.

A still further important advantage of the invention isthat it may bequite simply and cheaply `produced vin quantity to Ypermit the generaluse thereof. I

These and many-other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent toA vthose versed `in the art in the following'description Aofone particular form'of the invention as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which Fig. l is a View in side elevation and partial sectionof a structure vembodying Athe invention;

Fig. 2, a View in end elevation and partial section; and u Fig. 3, adetail in section on an enlargedsoale through the A'mibular walls of theheating means:

VI Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several viewsin the drawing.

Avery effective form of the invention is illustrated and describedherein to havea metal cylindrical shell or tube I0. Within this tube I0is fixed a right and left hand externally spirally grooved tubegenerally designated by the numeral 'l In practice, a simple method ofmanufacture would be to roll in the spiral in one direction on onelength of tube and roll in the oppositely spiralled groove on anotherlength of tube and then join these tubes centrally within the shell l ona line i2., it being understood that'thisjuncture would be so made as tobe gas-tight under all conditions. l f

Referring particularly 'to the detail in Fig. 3, this inner tube Il isformed to have a spiral rib i3 extending therearound `and in contactwith 'the inner face of the wall'o-f the tube l0 whereby a substantiallysemi-cylindrical spiral passage- 'way ill extends around the tubebetween wind- 2 gs of therib i3 yto have the outerside of thatpassagewayclosed' off bythe wall of the tube l0. The tube yIl ispreferably inade out of "a highly heatconducting metal, such a-scopperforexaniple, which also lends itself toA drawing to the desired spirallygrooved shape.

The endsof the tube Il are sealed 0H from passage therepast into thetube Ill. One particular means for accomplishing this sealing isillustrated in Fig. l `particularly where the outer 'endsof'the rshell'Ill are flanged outwardly over a ring l5, and then the ends of the tube`l| in Aeach instance' are flanged over and aroundagainst the flangedvends of thetube l0. rlivhe outer face of the hanged ends of the tube Hin each instance form aseat against which connecting fittings (notshown) maybe applied'and drawn up snugly lf or fa Vsubstanti'allygas-tight lit.

As indicated in Fig. 1, 'the spiral 'passageways 'i4 Vleadoff fromthecentral part of the tube li) in each longitudinal direction toterminate at the respective ends of thetube l0. Y d

"From suitable Zones'at the end portions of the tube lll, a'tube I5interconnects 'through ports I1 and it in those zones vthrough the shelllil, the Vtube i6 extending substantially throughout thellengthand'outside of the tube Hl. Inthe present showing, this tube IBis substantially semicirc'ular in cross section, the outer face of the`tube lll forming the closure across the Vtop side thereof.

The tube i6 is provided with av central under side `port i9 aroundwhich' is fitted externally thereof a nipple 2D carrying a suitablemounting flange 2i about its lower end. Abutteriiy valveY ,Z2 is mountedwithin thenipple 2D on a transverse shaft 23.

A vport 24 is provided in the shell l@ at the centralzone thereofcentered on the-line l2 between Vthe oppositely directed ribs I3,Fig. 1. A nipple iixedto the tube le externally thereof over the port 2Qand carries a mounting flange 26 on its upperpend. Within the nipple 25is a butter- -fly valve $6/ mounted on an operating, transverse shaft2l. The nipple 25 is interconifiected.Y from a point below the valve 3Swhen in closed position by means of a by-pass tube 28 with the lowernipple 2H at a point below the valve 22 when in its closed position.

A suitable fuel atomizing device is interconnected with the nipple 25.This device may be some such means as a carburetor in its elementalform, herein designated generally by the numeral 29, having the usualfuel level float chamber 3@ supplied in any suitable manner with fuelfrom a supply `pipe 3| and having a jet nozzle 32 interconnectedtherewith in the usual manner to terminate substantially within theVenturi throat 33 whereby air traveling through that throat will producea partial vacuum in the usual manner to withdraw fuel from the open topend of the nozzle 32 to pick up that fuel in an atomized formA in thestream of air flowing therepast. This device 29 in the present form isshown as being mounted directly on the flange 26 by an attaching flange3ft.

The lower nipple 23 is interconnected in any suitable manner through itsflange 2l with the intake manifold (not shown) of the gas engine towhich the invention is to be applied. In other words, when the engine isin operation, a partial Vacuum will exist at the lower entrance into thenipple 20. Also, one end of the tube I is interconnected with theexhaust gas discharge from the same engine to have that gas travelthrough the inside of the tube I I across the inside rounded sides ofthe grooves I4, one set spiralled oppositely to the other, and dischargefrom the other end of the tube II as a means of not only heatingintensely that tube I I but also as a means for silencing and extractingheat from the exhaust gases as finally discharged. Inother words, thetube Il serves in itself as a quite effective muier.

VIn operation, vwith the partial vacuum applied at the lower end of thenipple 20, and assuming that the valve 22 is closed, a degree of vacuumwill also be applied immediately under the *upper valve 26 in the nipple25 by reason of the presence of the by-pass tube 28 around the tube IU.Generally in such cases, the valve 36 will be closed or partially closedfor idling or starting conditions of the engine, it being understoodthat the valvewill operate generally in practice never to an absolutelyclosed position so that some air will be drawn through the throat 33 atall times the engine is turning over. Then in operation, both valves 22and 36 would bef opened to some further degree whereby the interior ofthetube I 6 and also the spiral passageways I4 within the tube It) wouldtend to be exhausted so that an air stream coming through the throat 33in response to that partial degree 'of vacuum would enter the port 24within the tube I0 to be divided to flow spirally around the tube I I inoppositedirections to the outer ends thereof, and discharge by separatestreams, one at each end, through the respective ports Il and I3 intothe tube IS to meet and co-mingle at the port I9 through which thecombined streams would flow through the nipple 29' and on into theenginemanifold.

VThe air flow through the throat 33 will pick up the fuel from thenozzle 32 in a somewhat coarsely atomized state, and this air andatomized fuel mixture will strike the heated tube I l whereby theatomized particles will be substantially completely gasiiied to mixintimately during their whirling action with Ythe air so that acompletely carbureted mixture without heavy and thin spots is obtainedandv delivered directly into the engine manifold.

While I have herein shown my invention in the one particular form, it isobvious that mechanical changes may be made without departing from thespiritV 0f the invention, and I therefore do not desire'to be limited tothat precise form beyond the limitations as may be imposed by thefollowing claims. Y i f j I claim:

l. In gas engine fuel induction meansfthe com` bination with a fuelatomizer, of an .open ended housing tube; an Vopen ended heat transfertube lwithin the housing tube; a spiral rib around the transfer tube inintimate contact with the wall of said housing tube, the wall of thetransfer tube being depressed between adjacent crests of theV rib toform a spiral passageway around the transfer tube bounded thereby andthe housing tube thereacross; said housing tube having an entry portover said passageway; lconduit means interconnecting said port with saidatomizing means; said housing tube having adischar'ge port toward theend of said passageway 'leading from said entry port; and conductingmeans leading from Vsaid discharge port; said transfer tube being gassealed from said housing tube; a Valve in said conduit means; a secondvalve in Asaid conducting means; and a by-pass conduitleading from saidconducting means outside of the second valve and to said conduit meansbetween said valve and saidhousing tube.

2. For mounting between a carburetor and an engine fuel intake member, atube having `Aopenings, one at each end portion, and` one on; its side;a heat transfer tube within the said :firstj tube, said transfer tubehaving a spiral rib therearound leading in opposite directions from acentralzone and in substantial contact with said first tube,

thereby defining a spiral chamber between the two tubes of oppositethread from. saidcentral Zone; said rst `tube having its said sideopening at said central zone; the outervends ofsaid transfer tube beingsealed offY at the outer ends of rsaid first tube; said transfer tubehaving a spiral valley therearound from its inner side, complementingsaid rib, wherebyan interior corrugated sur'- face extends in oppositespirals vfrom said central zone; a conduit interconnecting'outer,opposite end portions of said spiral chamber and. having an outletdisposed between tho-se opposite end portions.

3. For mounting between a carburetor` and Van engine fuel intake member,a tube having open ings, one at each end portion, and one on its side; aheat transfer tube within the said irs't tube, said transfer tube havinga spiral rib therearound leading in opposite directions from a centralVZone and in substantialicontact with .said first tube, thereby defininga spiral chamberl between the two tubes of opposite Vthread from saidcentral zone; said first tubehaving its said side opening .at saidcentral Zone;fthe outer ends of said trans,- fer tube being sealed olfat the louter ends of said first tube; said transfer tube having aspiralvalley therearound from its inner side,rcomplement .ing said rib,whereby an interior corrugated sur-V face extends in opposite spiralsfrom said central zone; a conduit interconnecting outer, opposite endportions of said spiral chamber and Vhaving van outlet disposed betweenthose opposite Vend portions; and a by-pass conduit leading from saidrst tube side openingand discharging at said conduit outlet; and aby-pass conduit control valve located between said conduit and saidbypass discharge. Y

. ERWIN G. BAKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent: Y

UNITED STATES PATENTSA Number Name 'y Y DateV 1,431,326 Perry ,.Oct. 10,1922 Y 1,213,305 Verderber Jan. 23, 1917 1,395,677 Ivor Nov. l, 1921V2,374,609

, McCollum` Apr. 24, 1945

